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Ode-Remo

Ode-Remo is in Remo North Local Government Area. As of today it co-habits four other town-lets – Iraye, Eposo, Are and Ogunmogbo. It is situated in the north of the division. The old Ibadan road, the Federal road passed through the outskirt of the town to the left. Ode-Remo is placed at a strategical position as it has the Lagos-Ibadan Express road on the left side at the outskirt of the town. It has a close boundary with Iperu, Ogere, Ipara, and Isara. The distance between Ode-Remo and Isara is within a kilometre or two, same with Ipara. Anyone going to Ipara, Isara and Akaka has no other route than passing through Ode-Remo. It is on an undulating land, hence, it has a good drainage system.

The historical assertions about Ode-Remo are many, one assertion conflicting with one another. The various assertions are all discussed here. One can read each assertion and after the reading, one can determine which one can be close to a realistic history of Ode-Remo.

The first assertion about Ode-Remo is that Ode-Remo originated from the ancient city of Ile-Ife. The leader and his people were from Ilode Quarter of Ile-Ife. The assertion went on to say that Arapetu, Liworu and Obaloran were brothers, the sons of Ewusi. Ewusi was the mother of the trio. They were from Ilode, a sub-quarter of Iremo Quarters of Ile-Ife. They left Ile-Ife together the same day and migrated down South. The intention was to establish a new settlement. Arapetu and Liworu did not part, there was no separation between them. Arapetu and Liworu were the founders of Makun Community of Sagamu today. Obaloran parted with his other two brothers and founded a separate Community called Ode-Remo today. Elders in both Makun and Ode-Remo are of the opinion that Makun and Ode-Remo were founded the same day. The common saying of elders is that Makun and Ode-Remo were founded the same day – “Ojo ti nwon do Makun ni won do Ode”. The founder of Ode-Remo was called Obaloran whilst the founders of Makun were Arapetu and Liworu. The belief is that the two Remo towns, Makun and Ode-Remo were founded by the sons of Ewusi.

It is part of the assertion that Obaloran moved South. The routes, the partial settlements were not mentioned until his settlement at Ode-Omi. Obaloran later moved out of Ode-Omi with his people. He left part of his people at Ode-Omi. This showed that Ode-Omi and Ode-Remo are of the same blood, the descendants of Obaloran. There was Makun-Omi, from Arapetu and Liworu, showing similarity from both siblings. After leaving Ode-Omi, he and his people wandered and got to the present site of Ode-Remo. The settlement at the present Ode-Remo was first called Olode-Iremo, but later changed to Ode-Remo.

It is asserted that the site of the first settlement of Ode was Itun-Ikanna. Some Egba refugees joined Olode at this Ikanna settlement. Obaloran became the first Olode and all other subsequent heads were called Olode. An unusual incident happened which made the title Olode to be changed to the present name, “Alaye of Ode-Remo.” History pointed out that a daughter of the Awujale of Ijebu-Ode was barren. The woman through frustration of her barrenness left Ijebu-Ode her father’s domain. She wandered until she got to Ode-Remo and settled down. She got married at Ode-Remo and as luck would have it, she got pregnant and had a baby boy. The joy of having a baby boy took her back to Ijebu-Ode, her father’s domain. History indicated that the then Awujale was Obaruwa-Obaruwa mu da, E kewa-Olu of Ijebu-Ode. This woman stayed with the Awujale for some time.

As it is common with parents, Obaruwa carried the daughter’s son and played with him often. The baby boy during a play with his grandfather toyed with the Crown on the head of the Awujale and cried for the Crown. When he cried and the Crown was placed on his head, he stopped crying and felt happy. As at the time of their departure back to Ode-Remo, the Awujale released that particular Crown to the baby boy. History says that when this boy grew to manhood, he was installed as a King and made use of the Crown brought from Ijebu-Ode. He changed the title of “Olode of Ode” to Alaye of Ode-Remo. Since that time, the title of Ode had changed to Alaye of Ode-Remo

There is another assertion which says that Obaruwa, the tenth Olu of Ijebu-Ode came and settled at the present site of Ode-Remo. He was in Ode for many years. He had children at Ode-Remo. He planted an Akoko tree at this his settlement. He gave instruction that any of his children who should become the Alaye of Ode should make use of the Akoko leaves for his installation. He went back to Ijebu-Ode later leaving some of his people at Ode. The settlement continued to grow up till today. This assertion showed that Awujale of Ijebu-Ode, the Obaruwa was a co-founder of Ode-Remo.

There is the third assertion that the first settlement in Ode was in existence and without any problem. There came a time when a son of the Awujale came to Ode and joined the settlement in a peaceful form, not with any confrontation. The Olode recognised him as a Prince and he was recognized as such. When the Olode died the new comer, the Prince in the name of Odubale Ro kemu was installed as the Oba of Ode. He changed the tittle being used from Olode of Ode to Alaye of Ode-Remo. The title of all Obas in Ode-Remo has since then remained as Alaye of Ode-Remo.

Odubale Ro kemu had four wives, namely:

a. Abejupe b. Efumero c. Adebowale d. Efubajo

The four wives had children for the Alaye of Ode-Remo, “Odubale Ro kemu.” The children of the four wives made up the four ruling houses in Ode-Remo today.

The ruling houses are:

a. Odubale / Afonlade

b. Odubale / Akarakuta

c. Odubale / Anurun neru / Sataloye

d. Odubale / Owadaniyan / Apondele

The four ruling houses in Ode-Remo today are from Odubale Ro kemu. The children of the four wives of “Odubale Ro kemu”formed the Ode-Remo ruling houses.

Reading through the various assertions about the history of Ode-Remo, it is gladdening that the best assertion is the founding of Ode-Remo by Obaloran who came from Ile-Ife. All the other assertions made it very clear that they met Ode-Remo in place and they joined the old community. We must remember that Isanbi met the Iworu people at Igborule and co-habit with them without any force of arms. At the end, Isanbi overshadowed the Iworu people. There is similarity in the other people mentioned in the history of Ode-Remo. They met the Olode in place and settled down with him in peaceful mood. Though they later overshadowed them, yet the history of the founding of Ode-Remo belonged to no other person than Obaloran. It is evident that Obaloran founded Ode-Remo. The other groups who settled at Ode-Remo in the assertions only settled down with the Olode. This was not an unusual event in the various historical foundations of other communities. However, readers are free to identify themselves with whichever of the assertions that they believe is the most relevant to them in the history of the formation of Ode-Remo. You are free to your own opinion.

Odubale Ro kemu became an authority in Ode-Remo. The suzerainty of Odubale Ro kemu over-shadowed the authority of the Olode and any of the earlier settlers in Ode-Remo. The period and the overlordship of all other parties in Ode-Remo settlement went into oblivion. The time of all other rulers in Ode-Remo, including Obaloran are time of obliteration in Ode history.

There were several leaders and Kings that had led or reigned in Ode-Remo especially during the early settlement whose names and time could not be remembered. There were times of interregnum when there were no Kings on the throne of Ode-Remo. However, below are the names of the Kings whose names and periods could still be remembered in the history of Ode-Remo.

Calender 2015

About Me

I am a young, unique and easy going guy, who loves been an entrepreneur and to develop business ideas which has helped and made me continue to be the CEO/MD of MayorBEE Global Ventures and MayorBEE Global Packaging. Mayowa Adegbuyi is also the organiser for Remo-North Youth Empowerment summit.